They will be even heavier on the return, when she’ll be packing canned jalapeños and chipotles, flour tortillas, Reese’s peanut butter cups (the big ones), bottles of Cholula, Fritos and — of course — Velveeta and cans of Ro-Tel.

Because you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take away her queso.

Follow Ellise’s adventures and find out about upcoming events at cowgirlchef.com.

Scene: ‘Havana Nights’ at W Hotel

The W Dallas-Victory, striving for a little midweek buzz during this long summer, debuted its “Havana Nights” promotion Thursday. The W’s Living Room bar and Victory Park neighbor the Havana Social Club collaborated to resuscitate old Cuba in a party that included liquor flights ($25 for rums, $40 on bourbons, $50 for scotches), discounted cigars — smoked on the patio, of course — and tropical music. The promotion continues Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Living Room.

True to form: Jesse and Newt

Now that two episodes of TNT’s new Dallas — or three, depending on how you count week one’s twofer — have aired, all of America wants to know how Jesse Metcalfe (a.k.a. Christopher Ewing) got his chest looking so Rushmoresque. Aside from diet and DNA, the former Desperate Housewives hunk was spotted at Equinox on Oak Lawn during the Dallas shoot, wailing on his pecs with the help of local trainer Brock Travis.

Looking a little less tanned and ripped was Newt Gingrich, who turned up in Dallas last week. The former thorn in Mitt Romney’s side was seen dining at Abacus on McKinney Avenue.

Power trip: 2012 Porsche Carrera S

Shell out $130,000 for the latest tweak of a 55-year-old design? Emphatically, maybe, if you’ve caught the supercar bug and Porsche is your brand of medicine. The new Carrera S is longer, wider and as low as ever. The rear-engine handling has been tamed and the interior upgraded, but it’s still got that unmistakable 911 rasp and smokin’ disposition, ripping to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Keeping up with the shakers and movers in society, culture, entertainment and night life

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